How to choose the novice shooting mode?

Even the most experienced photographer can sometimes use the pre-programmed mode to focus the photos instead of calculating the exposure. However, if you are not familiar with photography or want to expand your skills outside the automatic mode, you need to know the camera shooting mode first.

When the camera is set to shooting mode, there are four results to choose from: deep depth of field, shallow depth of field, motion blur or freeze frame. How do you know which mode to use in photography to get the ideal effect? You can look at the following introduction.

automatic mode

In automatic mode, the camera will automatically set the shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance and even the built-in flash for you.

Benefits: This is a good choice for beginners-but don't rely too much on the camera. You can use it until you know how to set up your own camera.

Disadvantages: In some lighting conditions, automatic adjustment may lead to bad results. For example, backlit portraits only show outlines; In low light conditions, the image may fade and grainy, and the camera can also choose to use the built-in flash to increase the light.

When to use it: Every time you use the camera in a compact form, this is your shooting mode.

This portrait was taken in the sun in automatic mode. The camera has done a good job in adjusting the exposure, but there is still 1/2 underexposure. Set the automatic exposure to: shutter speed 1/250 seconds, aperture f/6.3, ISO 100 if the shutter speed and ISO are acceptable.

Program mode (p)

In program mode, the camera will automatically set the shutter speed and aperture, and you can choose ISO, white balance, exposure compensation and flash.

Benefits: For beginners, this is a good next step. They want to have more control over the camera and improve their photos.

Disadvantages: Like "automatic", due to some automatic settings, some lighting conditions may lead to unpredictable results, and sometimes the results will have opportunities.

When to use: Use this mode when you want to master the camera settings step by step.

shutter priority

In the "shutter priority" mode, select the shutter speed and ISO, and the camera will automatically set the appropriate aperture to get the correct exposure.

Advantages: It is very suitable for capturing the freezing action and fuzzy action of moving objects.

Disadvantages: In this mode, the shutter speed can be controlled, so please pay attention to whether the aperture selected by the camera is exposed correctly and which lens to use is also important. Some cameras can shoot at a very fast shutter speed, but if the aperture of the lens is insufficient, the image will be underexposed. For example, if you shoot at a speed of 1/4000 seconds, you need an aperture of f/2.8 to properly expose, but the lens is always fully opened at an aperture of f/3.5, and the image will be underexposed.

When to use: Please use this mode when you need to control the motion of the subject; If you want to capture motion, please use a faster shutter speed; If you want to blur the motion, please use a slower shutter speed. When using a large mm lens, this mode is also useful if you need to set a fast shutter speed to prevent the image from blurring due to camera vibration.

When the shutter is used first, the shutter speed is 1/8 seconds to blur the fast flowing water.

The following are excerpts of suggestions in some cases:

The freezing speed is very fast-1/3000 seconds.

Athletes in sports-from 1/500 seconds to11000 seconds.

Birds in flight-from11000 seconds to 1/2000 seconds.

People who walk-1/250 seconds.

Translation of the moving object-from 1/30 seconds to1125 seconds.

Fuzzy fast water-1/8 seconds.

Fuzzy slow flow-1/2 seconds.

Aperture priority

In aperture priority mode, select aperture and ISO, and the camera will automatically set the appropriate shutter speed to get the correct exposure.

Advantages: Apart from manual mode (the next part), aperture priority is the most popular mode for photographers, mainly because it allows you to control focusing and unfocused. In most cases, the focused elements will make the photo successful or doomed to failure.

Disadvantages: In the case of insufficient light, the camera may choose a very slow shutter speed, which will lead to blurred images due to the movement of the subject and camera shake.

When to use: Use this mode when you want to control the depth of field of an image. The larger the aperture, the more light enters the camera sensor and the shallower the depth of field. On the contrary, the smaller the aperture, the less light incident on the sensor and the deeper the depth of field. Please note that changing the aperture will affect the shutter speed. More light from a larger aperture will lead to a faster shutter speed, while less light from a smaller aperture will lead to a slower shutter speed.

Setting the aperture priority can increase the depth of field.

Here are some suggested apertures:

Landscape -f/8 or faster, greater depth of field

Portrait-large aperture (f/2.8), suitable for shallow depth of field and blurred background.

Macro f/8 or faster, greater depth of field

Manual mode (m)

Manual mode allows you to change the shutter speed and aperture, and the camera has no automatic settings. The camera's built-in exposure meter will tell you which exposure is correct, but you can completely control the shutter speed and aperture setting to achieve the correct exposure for the required shooting. Before using the manual mode, it is recommended that you study the exposure triangle (shutter speed, aperture and ISO) and its influence on the image.

Benefits: This mode gives you complete control over the images you create.

Disadvantages: Although this mode provides many creative options for, you should always check the exposure of each image, especially under rapidly changing lighting conditions.

When to use it: Once you learn how to use this mode, its effects and adjustment results, and how they work together, you can almost use this mode.

In manual mode, the small aperture is used to control the depth of field, while the slow shutter is used to blur the movement of water.

Scene mode

Scene mode is very similar to automatic mode. Select a scene, and then the camera sets the best settings for the given scene. Different camera models may have different scenes, but the following are the most popular:

Motion-The camera will increase ISO sensitivity and capture motion with a fast shutter.

Landscape-the camera uses a small aperture to maximize the depth of field; You can also disable the flash.

Portrait-The camera will use a larger aperture to make the background unclear. Some models of cameras use face detection in this mode.

Macro-The camera will choose a smaller aperture to provide the greatest depth of field possible.

Advantages: Like the program, this scene mode is mainly the starting point for beginners, and the shooting effect is usually better than the automatic mode.

Disadvantages: These settings often provide the desired results, but sometimes they may be different and unreliable.

Timing: Scene mode can be used as the next step for beginners after Auto, so as to learn the working principle of the camera and improve their photography skills.

So which is the best model?

Which mode to use is entirely up to you. However, if you choose automatic, scene or program mode and want to enhance the photo effect, please learn how to set the correct exposure according to the shutter speed, aperture and ISO. This will help you make the correct settings and create beautiful photos. For professional photographers, the two most popular modes are manual and aperture priority. Therefore, no matter which mode you choose, you can enjoy the photography experience!